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AT&T Says Malware Secretly Unlocked Hundreds of Thousands of Phones
alphadogg writes: AT&T said three of its employees secretly installed software on its network so a cellphone unlocking service could surreptitiously funnel hundreds of thousands of requests to its servers to remove software locks on phones. The locks prevent phones from being used on competing networks and have been an important tool used by cellular carriers to prevent customers from jumping ship.
Just sayin.
Or at least, stretches the definition of "malware" to the breaking point.
STOP . AMERICA . NOW
If only the idea of a carrier-locked phone could be made illegal... It would put more pressure on the companies to actually come up with decent pricing and plans to secure their customers!
I was out of contract over a year ago, but I'm still fighting to get mine unlocked.
To unlock out of contract phones then this probably wouldn't have happened.
Sounds more like this to me "3 employees saved hundreds of thousands of phones from AT&T's network".
The practice of AT&T and other carriers to force people who have completed the contract and paid off all the subsidies they got when they signed on is malafide. They make people jump through hoops to use something they have bought and paid for. This software that unlocked the phones is reversing the bad action by the carriers. This software is bona fide. So we need to coin a word for software that is the antonym of malware, May be bonaware or goodware or niceware. Or Ghandhiware because this software is a freedom fighter.
sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
One man's insurgent is another man's patriot.
What do we call this now? Is it white hat malware?
"Never give up, for that is just the time and place when the tide will change." -Harriet Beecher Stowe ^_^
Now this is some malware I can get behind.
Someone should start a Kickstarter to fund some malware like this.
Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
playing the AT&T theme song
It's sad that i have more freedom of choice in countries far less "democratic" and "liberal" than USA, than i do in USA, in terms of technology and telecommunications.
So true. I travel to Cambodia & Vietnam once or twice a year. In Cambodia or Vietnam you can literally walk into any phone store, buy literally any phone, then walk outside to a SIM-chip kiosk (they're every where, staffed by lovely young ladies) and buy a SIM card. Stick it in your phone and *bam*, you're on the air. None of this shit about carriers or contracts or networks or compatibility or any of that stuff- any phone with any SIM works everywhere in the entire country.
The result is that carriers compete to offer the lowest prices with the most features. And it works- $10 to $20 a month gets you service with all the stuff the highest-cost plans here in the US have.
Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
I don't believe it .. what really happened ?
For some reason, I'm hearing the AC/DC song Jailbreak running through my head.
This is clearly not malware, but i think its not what ATT really meant to say either. The people who are still under contract shouldn't be using this program until they have paid off the phone or whatever contract they have that legally prevents them from unlocking the phone. That still doesn't make it malware. And i would think ATT can easily see who is unlocking a phone who shouldn't be unlocking it. Being we live in an age where we have zero privacy and all.
Jack of all trades,master of none
on your definition of "fight". It need notbe violently.
was thinking more like 'Schindler's List'
If i have a contract, i can't cancel it before the contract allows me to without a penalty, so, why do you lock my phone?, i'd still be under the obligation of paying for the service?. Phone network locking shouldn't be a thing, it's beyond stupid.
So I need to cheer for malware this time?
If i have a contract, i can't cancel it before the contract allows me to without a penalty, so, why do you lock my phone?, i'd still be under the obligation of paying for the service?. Phone network locking shouldn't be a thing, it's beyond stupid.
Money.
First, they don't want you to switch services. If they make it harder, or make it more likely you'll wait till a certain time and then forget, they make more money.
Second, they won't collect that penalty. They will collect it from some people and then collect a percentage of it by selling it to a debt collector.
Does the world really have room for multiple superheros? I'd hate to forget about Mr. Snowden, but these guys certainly did something a bit more practical, which is always a bit plus in my book.
In any case, I think a Nobel prize is in order. If there's any debate about which Nobel prize, I say we just award them prizes in multiple categories.
Most of those people with the unlocked phones will never know the difference so what's the big deal?
an important tool used by cellular carriers to prevent customers from jumping ship.
Handset locks don't stop anything, it is contract law which ensures people pay for the remainder of their contract terms... Handset locks just decrease the usefulness and resale value of the handset, while creating an artificial grey market in unlocking methods.
I intentionally avoid any operator who supplies locked handsets.
http://spamdecoy.net - free throwaway anonymous email - avoid spam!
boo freaking hoo, spying, lying no good AT&T.
Nobody every audits logs.
Welcome to the real world.